Parts of a Digital Microscope

Although there are obviously many different types of digital microscopes and purposes for their use,
there are some basic parts of a digital microscope. Some optical microscopes are equipped with a digital
microscope camera, while some offer HDMI/USB output capability. Many digital microscopes include a
digital microscope camera with an LCD screen attachment for displaying images while many others rely
on a separate USB computer monitor or HDMI monitor.

How Do Digital Microscopes Work?

Typically, a digital microscope comes with software that runs on a computer and supports the
microscope’s function. With the software, users can see and capture images. Many versions of software
also have additional advanced features, including video recording, measuring, anecdote/labeling and
photo editing. On some programs, you can magnify and modify images from the digital microscope in
multiple ways.

Types of Digital Microscopes

Of the many types of digital microscopes available from student to medical and industrial research,
handheld units are very popular. They’re portable, easy to hold, and ideal for use on factory floors and
for field work in various industries.

Digital microscopes have been designed specifically for a wide range of industries and related
applications. Examples of digital units made for specific purposes include ear scopes/ENT, and
dentiscopes/endoscopes. The following are more of the many different types of digital microscopes:

Biological Digital Microscopes : High magnification biological scopes that are lit from beneath the
graduated mechanical stage. Objectives range from 4x-100x with halogen or LED illumination.

Fluorescence Digital Microscopes: Optical scopes that use fluorescence and phosphorescence as the
main source of light for generating images.

Inverted Digital Microscopes: Trinocular microscopes with the light source and condenser on top of the
stage that are available in metallurgical, brightfield, and phase contrast configurations.

Metallurgical Digital Microscopes: Scopes designed to view metal surfaces, circuitry, or any opaque
surface.

Phase Digital Microscopes: Inverted or upright microscopes designed to view unstained specimens that
are alive or dead.

Polarizing Digital Microscopes: These microscopes use polarized light to force light wave vibration in a
single direction. This allows you to evaluate the three-dimensional structure & composition of the
anisotropic specimen.

Stereo Digital Microscopes : Typically reflect light off specimen rather than shining it through them. Ideal
for viewing electrical components, circuitry, plants, art, and artifacts.

USB Microscopes: Digital microscopes is where the camera is dedicated to the microscope. The digital
camera is permanently attached & not able to be removed. Digital Microscope packages are digital
microscope cameras that can be removed from the microscope they are connected via c mount adapter.

Handheld Digital Microscopes: New wave of digital cameras that are integrated into a small, handheld
microscope system. Used in applications such as surface inspection and forensics.

Portable Digital Microscopes: Small and often with wireless capabilities, portal digital microscopes are
ideal for viewing hard-to-reach surfaces and typically used for medical purposes, field inspection, and
dermatology applications.